This is such an interesting internecine war being waged.
Quote:But some establishment-aligned figures, while acknowledging their disdain for Mr. Cruz, said the case against him was not merely personal. They argue that Mr. Trump has the potential to bring out new voters, who may also vote for Republicans lower on the ballot. They predict that Mr. Cruz would draw support in only a handful of states and would reorient the party around a hard-line conservatism.
“Trump won’t do long-lasting damage to the G.O.P. coalition,” said John Feehery, a Capitol Hill aide turned lobbyist. “Cruz will.”
Bush senior and junior could be, and were, relegated to the "he wasn't really a true conservative" dung heap. So, of course, were McCain and then Romney. Super easy to do the same with Trump, of course. But Cruz? Not at all so easy given that he is running flat out as a 'true conservative' and is accepted by most of the base as exactly that.
If he becomes the face of true conservatism and then fails big in the general, that could wreak considerable havoc on movement conservative self-certainties. They'll play victim as they always do, of course, but it could be really damaging.
Either one, though, losing big looks certain to do extensive damage to the GOP brand, which is a different thing. And that's what this dilemma looks to be all about.
